Auxiliary door operating mechanism



July 16, 1940. Q LEONARD 2,208,309

AUXILIARY DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM Filed April 12, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 BE W!) Y July 16, 1940. D c, LEONARD 2,208,309

AUXILIARY DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM Filed April 12, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A 6.65 Lea/Lari BB & G W M I Patented July 16, 1940 AUXILIARY DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM David C. E. Leonard, Hagerstown, Md., assignor to Jamison Cold Storage Door Company, Hagerstown, Md., a corporation of Maryland Application April 12, 1939, Serial. No. 267,486

8 Claims.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in a multiple door system including main and auxiliary doors, and more particularly to the provision of operating means for 5, efiecting operation of an auxiliary door in conjunction with the main door. 7 W A multiple door system including main and auxilia y dors may be employed in various instances, as for instance, in plants requiring rela- 10 tively large refrigerator or cold storage chambers. Thus, the present invention is particularly concerned with the provision of a refrigerator door system which includes a main refrigerator door and an auxiliary track door. It is customary to provide a main opening which is controlled by the main refrigerator door, and an auxiliary opening through which a track extends. An auxiliary door is employed for controlling the opening through which the track extends; The articles to be placed in the refrigerating cham ber are customarily supported from carriages of any suitable type. Ihese carriages or hangers generally consist of a depending bracket and a wheel which travels along the track and by which the carriages or hangers are supported. The track opening communicates with the large opening and the articles hang from the carriages travelling on the track so that they may pass through the main opening while the carriages passalong the track through the track opening. The present invention is concerned, therefore, with the provision of a door system including a main door for. closing. the main opening below the track and an auxiliary door for. closing the 5 opening through which the track extends.

. An. object of the invention is to provide a multiple door system of the above type, wherein the auxiliary door is opened or closed in conjunction with the opening or closing of the main door by an operating mechanism which effectstfull opening of the auxiliary door during the initial opening movement of the main-door and which effects closing of the auxiliary door only during the latter part of the closing movement of the 5 main door.

" A still further object of the invention is to provide a door operating mechanism of the above type, wherein a cam member is movable with the main door and cooperates with a linkage or lever system. for effecting full opening of the auxiliary door during the initial opening movement of the main door, and whereinthe cam member becomes disengaged from the linkage or lever system during further opening of, the main 5 door so that closin of theauxiliarydoor is delayed until thelatter part of the closing move:- ment of the main door.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a door operating mechanism of the above type, wherein the cam member on the main door is in the form of a bracket which is shaped so that itmay beinterchangeably used on the right or left hand sides of the main door, depending upon the side thereof which is hinged to the door frame.

The invention still further aims to provide a door operating mechanism of the, above type which is of a relatively simple construction, which is easily assembled, and which is thoroughly efiicient in use. a

The above and other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will be hereinafter more fully pointed out.

. In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a fragmentary side view, in section, showing in full lines the portions of the door operating mechanism with the main and auxiliary doors closed, and showing in dotted lines the portions of the door operating mechanism with the auxiliary door fully opened and the main door partially opened.

a Figure 2 is a reduced top view, in section, showing the main door closed and omitting the auxiliary door and the upper link.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, but. showing the main door in a partially opened position. I

Referring more in detail to the accompanying drawings, the refrigerating chamber includes a frontwall ID, a portion of which is'inset, as at H, to provide a frame and a relatively large opening into the refrigerator chamber. This opening is adapted to be closed by a main refrigerator door D. There is provided a smaller opening above the large opening and communicating therewith. The top of the small opening is defined by a wall section l2 and the vertical sides thereof are defined by wall sections l3, I3d. A conveying track T extends from any desired point outside the refrigerating chamber through the small opening to the interior of the refrigerating chamber and this small opening is adapted to be closed by an auxiliary track door D. The track T may be supported in any suitable manner and carriages or hangers (not shown) are adapted to travel on the track. When the doors D, D are open, a carriage is adapted to pass along the track through the small opening and the article hanging from the carriage is adapted to pass through the large opening therebelow.

The main refrigerator door includes a front panel l4, and a rear panel l5, these panels being separated by suitable laterally extending portions 6 and the interior of the door may be filled with a suitable insulating material. The peripheral edgesof the front panel I 4 extend beyond the lateral portions 16, to define a peripheral flange Ma to which is secured a sealing gasket IT. The main .door D is pivotally connected along one vertical edge thereof to the front wall ll] of the refrigerating chamber by means of hinges l8. Thus, the main door D is adapted to swing about a vertical axis.

The auxiliary track door D is connected to the front wall ll] of the refrigerating chamber by means of a horizontally extending hinge IS.

The track door depends from the hinge Iii-and has a vertical slot 26 through which the track T extends when the auxiliary door is closed; A suitable sealing gasket 2| is provided on the auxiliary door D for cooperation with the front wall of the refrigerating chamber to seal the interior thereof. The track door may also be provided with a flexible sealingcurtain which cooperates with the top edge ofthe main door D for sealing the interior of the refrigerating chamber.

- A bracket memberB includes a'supporting base 23 which is secured by screws 24 orthe like to thetop horizontal edge l6 of the main door D. This bracket is secured to the maindoor adjacent the edge of the small opening which is nearest the hinge mounting for the main door. The screws 24 pass through slots 25 in the supporting base, these slots permitting adjustment of the bracket member. The bracket member B includes a vertically disposed substantially U- shaped rib 26 which defines arm'portions extending substantially: parallel to one another toward the outside of the refrigerating chamber and toward the auxiliary doorwhen both doors are closed. The arms of the rib 26 are both pro- .vided with laterallyextending' flanges 21, 28, these flanges extending on opposite sides of the rib and being symmetrical. At the free ends of the armsof the rib.26,- the.flange.-2'| extends upwardly, as at 29,.and theflange, 28 extends upwardly, as at36. .Both flanges. 2,1, 28 are provided with relatively,wide-portions 3|, 32,.respectively, at the, rear ends thereof. These flanges gradually taper outwardly on bothsides of the rib 26 froma point substantially in line with the point atwhich thebase 23 is secured to the main door. Both flanges 21, 28 are inclined with respect to a horizontal plane and are substantiallyparallel to one another. However, the rear. endof the flange 21. is disposed in a substantially horizontalplane so as to provide a larger space between therear ends of both flanges. h A bracket B is secured to the auxiliary door near the edge of the small opening which is adjacent the hingedconnection for, the main door. The bracket B includes a pair of apcrtured cars 33 between which one aperturedend of a link'34 is pivotally mounted by means 'of'a pin 35. The I opposite apertured end of the link 34 is adapted to'be pivotally' connected to alever136. A plate 3'! is secured by screws 38 or'the like to the side of the small opening adjacent the bracket B. The lower end ofthe lever 36 -is"pivotally connectedby means of a pin 38 adjacent "the bottom end at the forward edge of the plate 31. The upper end of the'lever 36 is shaped to provide a re-- pivotal connection.

cess defined by offset side portions 39, 39a which are apertured and between which the free end of the link 34 is adapted to extend. A pin 40 extends through the side portions 39, 39a and the apertured end of the link 34 to provide the An adjustable screw 4| passes through the upper end of the lever 36 and extends into the recess provided between the offset plate portions 39, 39a. The screw serves as a stop in the manner hereinafter pointed out.

A roller 42 is secured to the lower end of the lever 36 adjacent the pivot pin 38 and extends outwardly therefrom. This roller is of such a door D'will tend to urge the lever 36 in a counterclockwise direction, thus tending to tightly close the track door D by means of the link 34 which is connected to the upper end of the lever 36.

In operation, initial opening movement of the main .door D will eifect corresponding movement of the bracket member B which is carried thereby. This movement of the bracket member 3 will cause the roller 42 on the lever 36 to abut against the downwardly and inwardly inclined flange 21 so as to eiTect clockwise movement of the lever 36 about the pivot pin 38. This movement ofthe lever 36 will effect outward movement of the link 34 and the auxiliary track door D'.' During this initial opening movement of the main door D, the flange 21 tends to leave the roller 42,but

' thewide rear portion 3| of this flange still remains in contact with the roller 42 so as to effect a full opening of the auxiliary'f door D before the bracket B completely leaves the roller 42. Thus, when the main door leaves the position of Figure 3, full opening movement of the auxiliary door is effected by contact of. the wide portion 3| of the flange 2'! with the roller 42. Further opening movement of the main door disengages the bracket B from the roller 42. In the full open position of the auxiliary door D', the link 34 and the lever 36, which constitute a toggle connection, pass dead center, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 1, so that the end of the stop screw 4| Will abut against an adjacent portion of the link 34, thus constituting a stop for maintaining the auxiliary door in its full open position. In closing the main door D, the roller 42 on the lever 36 does not become engaged between the flanges on the bracket B until the latter part of this closing movement. The rear ends of the wide portions 3|, 32 of the flanges 21,28, respectively, are spaced apart a slightly wider distance so as to assure that the roller 42 will be engaged thereby. When the roller becomes positioned between the enlarged portions-3l, 32 of the flanges, the roller will bear against the lower flange-28 so that final closing movement of the main door will effect counterclockwise movement of the lever 36 about its pivot 38. Thus, the locked position between the link 34 and the lever 36 will be broken and the auxiliary door D will be controlled during its closing movement by engagement of the roller 42 between the flanges 21, 28. In a fully closed position, the upwardly extending end 36 on the flange 28-will engage the roller 42 and tend to tightly close the auxiliary door as the main door is tightly closed.

From the foregoing description, it will be readily seen that the upper andl ower flanges 21, 28, respectively, on -the bracket member B provide azoasoo spaced and substantially parallel camming members or surfaces between'which the roller 42 on the lever 36 is'disposed'duringopening or closing of the auxiliarytrack doorD'L The flanges 21, 28 extend laterally on both'sides of the rib ZS'on the bracket'member B so that this bracket member can be employed on either side of the track opening, depending upon the position of the hinge for the main door D. The relatively wide portion 35 of the flange 21'serves -to maintain engagement with the roller 42 until the auxiliary track-door is fully opened. Then, the roller becomes disengaged from the flange during full opening of the main door. Upon closing of the main door, the roller 42 does not become engaged between the flange on the bracket B until the latter part of the closing movement of the main door. During the latter part of this closing movement, the roller engages the relatively wide portion 32 on the flange 28 so as to break the locking position of the link 34 and the lever 36. Thereafter, the roller remains engaged between the flanges 2T, 28, so that closing movement of the auxiliary door is controlled and is operated in synchronism with the final closing of the main door. Thus, the initial opening of the main door effects full opening of the auxiliary door while closing of the auxiliary door is not effected until the final closing movement of the main door.

While one form of the invention has been shown in the accompanying drawings for purposes of illustration, it is to be clearly understood that various changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a multiple door system having main and auxiliary doors, an operating mechanism for the auxiliary door comprising a link having one end thereof pivotally connected to the auxiliary door,

a lever having one end thereof pivotally connected to the door frame and having the opposite end thereof pivotally connected to the opposite end of said link, a bracket member carried by the main door and including cam members extending laterally therefrom and increasing in width toward the rear ends thereof, and means on said lever engageable with said cam members for effecting opening and closing of the auxiliary door upon opening and closing of the main door.

2. In a multiple door system having main and auxiliary doors, an operating mechanism for the auxiliary door comprising a link having one end thereof pivotally connected to the auxiliary door, a lever having one end thereof pivotally connected to the door frame and having the opposite end thereof pivotally connected to the opposite end of said link, a bracket member carried by the main door and including a pair of spaced arms having substantially parallel cam surfaces extending laterally on each side of said bracket member whereby the bracket member may be fixed to the main door at either side of an opening, and a member extending laterally from said lever and engageable with said cam surfaces for effecting opening and closing of the auxiliary door upon opening and closing of the main door.

3. In a multiple door system having main and auxiliary doors, an operating mechanism for the auxiliary door comprising a link having one end thereof pivotally connected to the auxiliary door, a lever having one end thereof pivotally connected to the doo-rframe andv having the oppo-r site "endthereof pivotally connected to the,-opposite end of said link, a bracket member carried by the main door and having a pair ofarms' providing a U-shaped slot opening outwardly .toward the auxiliary door when closed, said arms having'spaoed substantially parallel. cam surfaces, and a roller extending laterally from said lever and adapted to extend into the 'U-shapedslot for engagement with said cam surfaces whereby to Eeffect opening and closing of the auxiliary door upon opening and closing of the main door.

4. In a multiple door system having main and auxiliary doors, an operating mechanism for the auxiliary door comprising a link having one end thereof pivotally connected to the auxiliary door, a lever having one end thereof pivotally connected to the door frame and having the opposite end thereof pivotally connected to the opposite end of said link, a bracket member carried by the main door and including spaced cam surfaces extending laterally on each side of said bracket member whereby the bracket member may be fixed to the main door at either side of an opening, and means on said lever engageable with said cam surfaces for effecting opening and closing of the auxiliary door upon opening and closing of the main door.

5. In a multiple door system having main and auxiliary doors, an operating mechanism for the auxiliary door comprising a link having one end thereof pivotally connected to the auxiliary door, a lever having one end thereof pivotally connected to the door frame and having a recess at the opposite end thereof for receiving the 0pposite end of said link, means providing a pivotal connection between the recessed end of said lever and the opposite end of said link, a bracket member carried by the main door and including cam members extending laterally on each side of said bracket member whereby the bracket member may be fixed to the main door at either side of an opening, and means on said lever engageable with said cam members for effecting opening and closing of the auxiliary door upon opening and closing of the main door.

6. In a multiple door system having main and auxiliary doors, an operating mechanism for the auxiliary door comprising a link having one end thereof pivotally connected to the auxiliary door, a lever having one end thereof pivotally connected to the door frame and having the opposite i end thereof pivotally connected to the opposite end of said link, a bracket member carried by the main door and including a vertically disposed rib portion providing spaced parallel arms, flanges extending laterally on each side of said arms and providing cam surfaces, and means on said lever engageable with said cam surfaces for effecting opening and closing of the auxiliary door upon opening and closing of the main door.

7. In a multiple door system having main and auxiliary doors, an operating mechanism for the auxiliary door comprising a link having one end thereof pivotally connected to the auxiliary door, a lever having one end thereof pivotally connected to the door frame and having the opposite end thereof pivotally connected to the opposite end of the link, a bracket member carried by the main door and including upper and lower cam surfaces, a roller on said lever engageable with said cam surfaces forv effecting opening and closing of the auxiliary door upon opening and closing of the main door, said lower cam surface having an upwardly extending end portion engageable with said roller when the main door is closed for efiecting a tight closing of the auxiliary door.

- v8. In a multiple door system having main and auxiliary doors, an operating mechanism for the auxiliary door comprising a link having one end thereof pivotally connected to the auxiliary door,

a lever having one end thereof pivotally connected a U-shaped slot opening outwardly toward the auxiliarydoo-r when closed, said arms having spaced substantially parallel cam surfaces extending laterally from said arms and gradually increasing in width toward the rear ends thereof, and a roller extending laterally from said lever and adapted to'extend into the U-shaped slot for engagement with the cam surfaces whereby to effect opening and closing of the auxiliary door upon opening and closing of the main door.

DAVID C. E. LEONARD. 

